Swords and Shields (Reign of the House of de Winter) by Kathryn Le Veque Page A

they could have fed to them from the heart of Edward’s service was more than they could have ever hoped for. A spy in the House of de Winter . Was it really possible? John seemed to think so, or at least Eustace Maxwell seemed to think so. Whether or not that spy was born English, perhaps her loyalty was stronger to her French and Scots family. Based on that confidence, Arn was willing to place some trust in it.
    “Very well, Johnny,” Arn finally said, glancing around to the group of Douglas men crammed into the small, stuffy chamber. “Tell Eustace we’ll fight with him. But the moment he isna forthcoming about the information from the Frenchwoman….”
    John cut him off. “He said he would share it with ye,” he said. “Uncle Eustace has never gone back on his word.”
    “Nay, he hasna.”
    There wasn’t anything more to say. Eyeing Arn, then William, and then the rest of the dirty Douglas warriors, John pulled his brother from the chamber. They emerged into the sunset, knowing it was too late for them to travel this night. The rest of the defeated army from Caerlaverock had moved east to Castle Creca, a small but secure Maxwell property, and John knew those men were well ahead of them by now. There was no use in trying to catch up. Therefore, he decided quickly, at the setting of the sun, that he and Robert would spend the night in the barn before setting out in the morning. They’d take turns sleeping so one could always be on watch, fearful that the Douglas might turn on them somehow. With the Douglas, that was always the fear.
    When morning dawned misty and cold, John and Robert set off on foot to catch up to the rest of their clan, men heading east, but they were men who had a secret weapon against the Sassenach king that was so determined to claim their country for his own.
    The Scots had a dagger pointed straight at Edward’s heart and the man didn’t even know it.
    It was a de Winter dagger.
     



CHAPTER FIVE
     
     
    Thetford Castle
    Norfolk
     

~ A Change of Destiny ~
     
     
    For a couple that wanted nothing to do with marriage, neither of them, the eventual wedding at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the ensuing wedding feast had been calm and, at times, even pleasant.
    The truth was that the day itself had been quite unusual, especially at the church when Lady de Winter had snatched Lady Elizaveta and pulled the girl into the sanctuary, having her husband and son shut the door behind them and then refusing to let anyone in. Lady Agnes had been beside herself, thinking that Lady de Winter was beating her child, whilst Mme. Mabelle had cursed at the de Winters using antiquated French phrases that no one had ever heard of. Something about a dog for a mother and a pig for a father. Eventually, Christian du Reims was forced to move his wife and her mother away from the church, praying that the de Winters weren’t working his daughter over inside the church. A bruised bride would only bring chaos. Therefore, like everyone else, he waited fearfully.
    And waited. A ceremony that was supposed to take place just after Matins didn’t take place until mid-afternoon when the church doors suddenly opened. Not only did Lady de Winter and Lady Elizaveta appear, both of them quite unharmed, but a very big knight also appeared with them. Drake de Winter was quickly introduced by his father, who seemed rather shocked to see his son, but after that, the ceremony was performed without trouble. Drake and Elizaveta were joined without a hint of resistance from either one of them and everyone retreated to Thetford Castle.
    Thetford Castle was a rather small castle with an enormously tall motte in the center of it and the keep perched atop. There were great earthwork berms to the north and a great moat that encircled the motte, but between the motte and one of the big berms to the east was a bailey with outbuildings and a hall. It was inside this hall where the feasting was taking place. The hall could hold